A$AP Rocky's new album Don’t Be Dumb takes some shots

A$AP Rocky just dropped his new album, Don’t Be Dumb. I haven’t listened all the way through yet so I’ll leave it to MC to address it next week in his music column, but for now, we’ll just gossip. Because there’s always gossip in hip-hop. And when it’s hip-hop gossip, more often than not, Drake makes an appearance.

On a tracked called “Stole Ya Flow”, Rocky isn’t subtle:

“First you stole my flow, so I stole yo bitch”

Drake’s been accused for years of stealing from other artists – their delivery, their presentation, their style – and Rocky is one of the most prominent alleged inspirations. The second part of the lyric doesn’t need a explanation. And Rocky’s not exactly denying it either. In an interview on the NYT Popcast podcast Rocky is asked about the internet presuming that some of the shots he’s taking on the album are directed at Drake. His response: “I think we all know”. When asked why their relationship went south, because at one point they were friends, Rocky said:

“I don’t know, I just started just seeing people who started out as friends become foes. Seemed like they was unhappy for you and started sending shots. I think that’s what led to any of our misunderstandings or whatever the case is. It really ain’t smoke.”

And then when pressed whether or not they might put it all behind them, Rocky didn’t seem interested:

“Nah, it don’t even need to be. For what?”

For what, indeed.

As for how well the album will perform, and the fact that he’s not usually an artist who charts in the mainstream, Rocky claims he doesn’t care, that that’s not why he makes music and, besides, he has other ways of being a celebrity, successfully. Which… can’t lie, I love this. I love that he’s basically like, I enjoy being famous and I know it’s not my music that makes me famous.

He’s definitely famous for his fashion, his taste, and that was before he and Rihanna officially started dating. As Jon Caramanica points out in the interview, Rocky was serving looks way back in 2013 that have become style standards now. And then, of course, there’s the RiRi of it all. She joined him last night in NYC for the listening party and she comes up on the podcast.

Rocky talks about how his mother wanted him to get with Rihanna before he even knew it was a possibility, which is cute. But my favourite part where RiRi is concerned is what he says about her influences on him, one of them being that she’s the Friend Test:

“A woman will change your whole life, especially if it’s a companion. Being with my girl took a blindfold off. As soon as you get with a girl, she’ll tell you like, “That’s not your friend. That’s your friend. But that one …”

Who’s going to argue with Rihanna when she says that someone isn’t a real one? Not Rocky!

Rocky is the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this weekend, hosted by Finn Wolfhard. No disrespect to Finn, I’m sure he’ll do great, but I already know I’m going to need more Rocky. Just from the promos alone, we’re definitely going to need more Rocky. Also he’s wearing a quarter zip so I guess we’re still doing this in 2026.

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What else happened today…

The answer is yes, I have missed Gabrielle Union and I appreciate that all of these looks are good, even the tracksuit! (Go Fug Yourself)

John Oliver will not be changing his show, no matter who owns the network. Which should surprise no one who watches Last Week Tonight. If anything he’ll go even harder at them. (Pajiba)

Teyana Taylor is a culinary student so when I said the other day that she has the range… I mean, she has the f-cking RANGE. All the range. (Celebitchy)

Harry Styles has announced a new album. And now his fans are hoping there may be a Harry x Stranger Things crossover. (Parade)

One of my favourite long reads this week is Reeves Wiedeman’s piece on David Ellison. If you’ve been following the whole Warner Bros/Netflix/Paramount mess, this is worth your time. These are stupidly, obscenely wealthy people who have more money than integrity or intelligence, eating away at art and creativity. I screamed several times throughout this essay, not in delight but in horror. Because they are monsters. (Vulture)